Friday Fix: A Healthy Take on Spring and Summer Party Snacks

For pancreatic cancer patients who feel up to hosting or attending gatherings with family and friends this spring and summer, finding healthy and beneficial snacks can be difficult to come by.

Dietitians often recommend frequent snacks for pancreatic cancer patients who do not have an appetite for regular size meals. A healthy snack should include a protein food paired with a fruit, whole grain (as tolerated) and/or a vegetable. If you’re experiencing diarrhea, opt for low-fiber bread, crackers or cereals, and peel thick-skinned fruits and vegetables.

“Eating six to eight snacks or small meals daily to ease digestion and maintain the best quality of life,” said Maria Petzel, senior clinical dietitian for the Pancreas Surgery Program at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and a member of the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. “Socializing while eating is another way to cope with a poor appetite. It is natural to eat more when you are not focused on every single bite of food.”

Here are a few snack recipe ideas that are healthy, delicious and simple to make if you are hosting or attending a party in the coming months: